Unemployment fell in February in 22 U.S. states

WASHINGTON — Unemployment rates fell in 22 U.S. states in February from January, a sign that hiring gains are benefiting many parts of the country.

Florida's unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent in February, down from 9 percent a year earlier. Nevada's rate, while tied with California and Mississippi for the highest among states at 9.6 percent, is down from 11.8 percent a year ago.

Locally, February's unemployment continued to drop in Volusia County to 7.6 percent from 8.2 percent in January, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity reported Friday, an improvement from last year's 9.5 percent.

Flagler County's rate dropped to 10.3 percent from 11 percent in January, giving Flagler the second highest unemployment rate in the state in February behind Hendry County's 10.8 percent. Flagler's rate a year ago was 12.5 percent.

The Labor Department says unemployment rates rose in 12 states and were unchanged in 16.

Nationally, unemployment slid to a four-year low of 7.7 percent in February, down from 7.9 percent in January. Since November, employers have added an average of 200,000 jobs a month, nearly double the average from last spring.